(Today's reading - Numbers 7; Mark 4:21-41)
In Numbers, the tabernacle is completed and is consecrated (set apart for the LORD). The entire chapter contains the details of how the altar was dedicated. My take away from this is that we should "make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at
peace with him." (2 Peter 3:14) If Moses and the children of Israel made the kind of efforts that we read about to make a building suitable for the LORD's dwelling place, how much more should we strive to provide Him a home in us that is consecrated for His use? Just a thought...
In Mark, we continue to read about Jesus beginning His ministry in Galilee. He is teaching along the shore of the Sea of Galilee and crowds come to hear His words. He teaches using parables... some understand, others don't. Thankfully, in many situations, He explains the meaning of His teaching. After giving the meaning of the parable of the sower, he makes the following statement...
He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under
a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?
For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and
whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.
If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued.
“With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even
more.
Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have,
even what he has will be taken from him.”
He asks them a simple question that each could certainly answer correctly. Do you turn on a light and then cover it so that the light is hidden? Of course not! The purpose of light is to get rid of the darkness. When you enter a room and turn on the light switch, you want the room to be illuminated. You want to see everything in the room. He says that when you bring a light into the room, you place it on a stand. In His time, these lamp stands were elevated and would provide light for the entire room. It would disclose what was hidden and bring out into the open what was concealed.
For sure several meanings can be drawn from this little saying. It can be applied to Jesus himself, the Light of the World. He came into a dark world and illuminated it, dispelled the darkness. (John 8:12) By association, Christians are also to give off light. (Matt 5:14) But, what was it about Jesus that confronted the dark and brought about illumination? What is it about the Christian that dispels darkness?
He tells them to consider carefully "what they hear". Could it be that the message was to open the eyes of the blind? Could it be that it was the good news that was to take its' place on a stand and light up the world? Of course we are to live Godly lives, but without words we only bring praise to ourselves. We are to reflect the light of the Son, His words are to be our words. (1 Peter 4:11) The Word of God exposes and brings to light those things we often wish remained hidden. The Hebrew writer put it this way... For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of
spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of
the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
When we allow it; when our hearts are open to His message, we are confronted with our failings. An honest heart will allow His word to pierce it and cause the change that is needed to conform to His likeness. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the
renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2) Jesus calls on us to put the lamp on the stand and let it illuminate the dark corners of our lives and reveal those things that need to confronted and changed. Painful... for sure. Needed... absolutely! And then... tell everyone you can; bring the light into others lives. That is the call. He puts it this way, “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more." Use what has been given to you! Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to
whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.
(Luke 12:48)
As Oscar Hammerstein put it in his note to Mary Martin..."A bell is not a bell till you ring it. A song is not a song till you sing it. Love in your heart isn't put there to stay. Love isn't love till you give it away." We need to be bell ringers and song singers and most assuredly we need to give the love of Jesus away. Happy giving.
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